Robert Green is the favourite to start against Algeria despite his blunder against USA. Photograph: Empics Sport

Fabio Capello will scrutinise Robert Green's final preparations in training before Friday's Group C fixture against Algeria but is increasingly inclined to retain the West Ham goalkeeper as his first choice for the critical match in Cape Town.

The Italian will recall the fit-again Gareth Barry in central midfield and suggested he would consider pairing Wayne Rooney with Jermain Defoe at some point in the game, though Emile Heskey is expected to start the match at the Green Point stadium. The players, as ever, will not learn of the manager's selection until some two hours before kick-off.

Capello and his coaching staff have been impressed with the manner in which Green has recovered his composure since his blunder against USA at the Royal Bafokeng stadium on Saturday. "He made one mistake, a big mistake, but in the second half he also made one great save [from Jozy Altidore]," the England manager said.

"He saved that really, really well. I have to decide about the goalkeeper because, sometimes the mistakes remain on the mind of the players, so I want to speak with him. It's a problem of the mind – you always remember the mistake – but I have to choose the best goalkeeper mentally at the moment. I will decide."

While Green's selection ahead of Joe Hart or David James could be considered something of a risk, the manager's apparent willingness to entertain the idea of playing Defoe is surprising. Heskey may have missed a fine second-half opportunity against the USA, and is not recognised as a natural source of goals, but his link-up play with Rooney was relatively accomplished in Rustenburg and he provided Steven Gerrard with the opportunity from which England took an early lead.

Defoe, with 11 goals in 40 internationals, provides more of a threat in the six-yard box but neither he nor Rooney has scored in a fixture they have started under Capello. Yet the Italian's insistence that the Jabulani World Cup ball is "the worst I have seen in my life" and reliant on a shorter passing style could yet explain his keenness to consider the Tottenham Hotspur striker. "I have to decide the second forward," Capello said. "Heskey or Defoe."

Asked about the Jabulani ball, he added: "This ball is the worst ball that I've seen in my life. For the players it's terrible – particularly for the keepers because it's impossible to judge the trajectory. It's good when you play short passes but when you try to switch the ball with long passes it's really difficult to understand the trajectory. Sometimes it is impossible to control. When you play on the floor it's good. When you play the ball longer, it's more difficult. For me, it's the worst ball I've seen."

Barry's return as a midfield shield will be welcome given the Manchester City player has arguably been England's most consistent performer under Capello. He has been back in full training since arriving in South Africa with the squad after a month on the sidelines with ankle ligament damage, with the medical and coaching staff now convinced there is no risk in selecting him in Cape Town.

His inclusion will see the captain, Steven Gerrard, revert to a more attacking brief down the left. "Gareth Barry will play on Friday," said Capello. "He's OK, no problems, and is training very well. He is fit. He's a player who can stay in front of the two centre-backs and reads his position on the pitch really well. The other two players, Steve and Frank [Lampard], did really well against the USA but I know that they are dangerous when they go forward. So that's why I'm happy that Gareth will play on Friday.

"I think we are really in a good moment of form because we finished strongly against the USA, who are a team who normally run a lot. Other teams usually suffer against the US, but we were strong. For this reason, I'm really relaxed about this game. We have to win – that's the most important thing – but we are ready to play against Algeria."

Jamie Carragher will replace the injured Ledley King in central defence.